extended family

noun

: a family that includes in one household near relatives (such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles) in addition to a nuclear family

Given space, there are ways in which even larger populations than the extended family can be accommodated under one roof.

—Paul Oliver

also : an extensive group of people who are related by blood or marriage or who otherwise regard themselves as a large family

Four out of every five people who go through a first divorce remarry … . Thus it is that husbands and wives, their former partners, children and stepchildren, and a whole constellation of grandparents and other relatives are brought together in the new American extended family.

—Michael Norman

During his five years at Owen High, he turned his teams into an extended family and tried to instill in his players the same sense of self-worth that Baldwin had imparted to him years before.

—William Nack

Synonyms

• home
• house
• household
• ménage

Examples of extended family in a Sentence

their extended family includes a grandmother and widowed aunt

Recent Examples on the Web

Clients who go that route often opt to continue operating it as a business for periods each year—long-term vacancy in any house causes more problems than occupancy, after all—with guests welcomed for, say, 10 months each year but peak summer reserved solely for extended family. —The Editors, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2025

Hira, police said, was allegedly lured out of the country under the guise of visiting extended family in Pakistan, per NYT. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025

On Wednesday, attending a funeral near the resort for an extended family that lost 14 members in the fire, Mr. Erdogan struck a somber tone. —Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Sports Lakers and Clippers games for Saturday postponed because of L.A. fires Jan. 10, 2025 Paul’s extended family who lives in the area? —Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1935, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

extended family

noun

: a family that includes parents and children and other relatives (as grandparents, aunts, or uncles) in the same household

Medical Definition

extended family

noun

: a family that includes in one household near relatives in addition to a nuclear family